From the streets of New Orleans, to selling socks and beanies in the Langston SSC, to building a nationally recognized brand, Langston alum Bruce Thompson’s story is rooted in his resilience, ambition and vision. It is shaped by his personal journey, including being displaced by Hurricane Katrina and becoming homeless during high school. He turned adversity into an opportunity, laying the foundation for what would eventually become Dreamathon.
Bruce Thompson was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He played sports as a kid, starting with football when he was eight years old and later including track, basketball and baseball. When Hurricane Katrina struck, he became homeless and moved to Texas. He was homeless once again during his ninth-grade year of high school because his house had monoxide, but these experiences shaped him into the man he is today. According to an interview with JZMedia, he moved back to New Orleans in the 9th Grade and played football at Miller-McCoy all-boys high school, which earned him a scholarship offer from Langston University. Thompson was a beast of a receiver, named to two all-team, all-conference teams, and was invited to the NAIA vs Division II Senior Bowl in the 2016 college football season. He returned in 2022 to complete his degree and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education, and recreation. He is also a Spring 16 initiate of the Phi Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated. Thompson wasn’t drafted in 2017 but fought for a spot on the New Orleans Saints roster. While he did not ultimately secure a permanent roster spot, the experience became a powerful turning point. He continued building relationships and having multiple workouts with NFL teams, gaining insight into the game while expanding his influence beyond it. Players began to see him as a trendsetter who was thinking bigger than football, and that perspective led him to fully embrace a greater purpose. From that foundation, he built Dreamathon, turning what could have been a setback into the start of something much larger than the game itself.
Bruce Thompson X NFLPA X Dreamathon
Thompson originally came to Langston to be part of the football team.”What brought me here was football, and that shaped me tremendously by being able to have a second chance to play ball, but Langston also taught me about survival. It taught me about creating a family with a whole bunch of friends that you could create, you know, strong relationships up and beyond the game of football.” He also talked about what inspired him to start Dreamathon. He stated, “What inspired me was my grandmother, who passed away from COVID, and that inspired me to dream way bigger. I was helping a lot of people as far as marketing and pushing them with their brands, and then I said, you know what, I want to create my own, so I had dreams because I’m always big with the dream chasing, and I got to understand it’s a marathon because I listen to Nipsey Hustle as well and you know when you have a marathon it’s always gonna go up and down and it’s just about staying consistent. So I put it together and called it Dreamathon.”
He also gave advice to Langston students and others who are interested in starting their own businesses. “Whether they want to start their own brand, business, or company in their field, I would say the first thing is to keep God first. The second is to build your confidence and have belief in your heart, then manifest as well as having emotional intelligence, and the last thing is to go chase it without looking back.” Thompson also talked about people who motivated him. He stated, “I would say Odell Beckham, he’s got the aura, he’s trendy, and the origins grew on me to have my own wave and create the things that I wanted to create, and sometimes we’ll go train together by me living with him during the summertime.
Bruce Thompson X Odell Beckhma Jr X Dreamathon
His impact extends far beyond recognition or business success. By giving back to college basketball programs through adidas shoes and placing his brand on their jerseys, he has created a vision and opportunity for athletes who are still working toward their own goals. In doing so, he has remained connected to his communities that shaped his early journey, ensuring that his success opens doors for others. His story is not defined by where he started, but by how he responded and what he built from it. What began as an idea rooted in struggle and determination has grown into a movement that embodies ambition, perseverance, and belief. His vision was realized, leading to the rise of Dreamathon.
From the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in his hometown to his move to Texas and homelessness in parts of his childhood, to building a brand recognized on a national level, Bruce Thompson’s journey reflects resilience, discipline, and vision shaped by adversity.
Isaiah Price
SPORTS EDITOR AND STAFF REPORTER
Isaiah price is a 4th generation Langston student who is involved in multiple student organizations on campus. He is a sophomore Broadcast Journalism major from Mansfield, Texas. He wants for the Gazette to present accurate and fair news for the Langston people and get the correct information out. He likes to cover sports and stories about people on campus, whether they’re a student leader or have a business. If you have a story to tell he wants to help you tell it. He thinks the work the Gazette does matters because it tells the truth and sheds light on things that usually aren’t talked about. His favorite hobbies are going to the gym and playing video games. To Be reach contact on instagram at _isaiah_price or email at Isaiah.price10@langston.edu
